Stuffed animals and lighted candles decorated the entrance of a scorched home that was the scene of a fire that killed a grandmother and four children early Thursday, while neighbors and loved ones prayed and leaned on each other for strength. Sheldon Dutes reports.

Captain Roman Clark said the victims were identified as 55-year-old Nancy Worrell, 1-year-old James Holden Jr., 2-year-old Kaniyah Scott, 4-year-old Darryl Stewart and 7-year-old Tykia Marky. Fire officials said the victims were found on the second floor in a back bedroom.

Fire officials said family members told them there were smoke detectors in the home, but officials said a preliminary investigation shows that, so far, that doesn't appear to be true.

"A total of 10 people were in home, and five escaped before we arrived," Baltimore City Fire Chief James Clack said.

Firefighters said they heard people screaming for help and encountered heavy flames and smoke emanating from the first floor up through the second floor.

Shade Worrell, 19, managed to rescue her 2-month-old son Vance by tossing the child out a window into the arms of her nephew. She said her 2-month-old is OK. She jumped out the same window.

Shade's son, Darryle, and his sister Kaniyah were killed in the blaze. Sharron Fenner said she lost her son, James Holden Jr.

Escape routes were hard to find. Shade's father, Will, managed to jump to safety from a second-floor window, but her mother, Nancy Worrell, did not flee to safety. Her sister, Barbara Hopkins, said Nancy was the primary caregiver of the children and she believes she died trying to save their lives.

The man who jumped from the home was taken to the Johns Hopkins Bayview Burn Center, where he was listed in critical condition early Friday morning.

He wasn't the only one injured. Upon receiving reports of children trapped inside, firefighters swiftly began operations inside the structure.

"Firefighters took hose lines inside the house to try to suppress the fire when one of our firefighters fell through the second floor," Cartwright told 11 News.

Photos: Fatal fire ravages Baltimore home

1 of 32

Baltimore City Fire Department

Baltimore firefighters are called to a fatal fire on Denwood Avenue in northeast Baltimore.

Two firefighters got hurt battling the inferno. One fell through the second floor of the home into the basement and landed on another firefighter. Both were taken to the Bayview Burn Center with non-life-threatening injuries and are listed in good condition.

The blaze was caught on cellphone video by neighbor Phil Buie, who said he woke up to sirens and smoke.

"You could see the fire coming out the windows. The Fire Department tried to get it out the best they could, but it was rolling," he said.

Fire investigators and police arson detectives will review the charred wreckage to find a cause. They said they believe it may have started because clothes were left too close to a furnace in the basement.

Neighbors said they are worried this may be another case of arson. There have been two recently in that community.

Fire officials say so far, there's no evidence to support that theory.

"Preliminarily, there are no details and no eyewitness accounts that this may have been (arson), but it can't be ruled out," Cartwright told 11 News.

Firefighters were able to gain control of the fire in about an hour and 40 minutes.

Family members told Franciotti that they don't know how or where the blaze began. The Red Cross is helping about 30 members of the family, many of whom are children.

Community mourns lost family members

On Thursday evening, stuffed animals and lighted candles decorated the entrance of the scorched home, while neighbors and loved ones prayed and leaned on each other for strength.

"We both liked to go on the trampoline," said friend Kyaire. "She was kind and generous."

"She was a very lovable child. She hugged everyone, and it is just so amazing that yesterday, she went around hugging the adults, telling them, 'I love you.' Little did we know that would be the last time we would see her," said Cecilia Johnson, an official at Moravia Park Elementary.

"To lose a child and a mother -- and I've been in both places -- is just heart-wrenching. As a community, we have to support each other," Johnson said.

City leaders release statements

Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake released a statement about the fire Thursday morning, saying in part, "I ask all the citizens of Baltimore, especially neighbors in the Frankford community, to pray for the victims and keep the family in their thoughts. They will need our continued care and assistance as they mourn the loss of their loved ones. … Fire Chief Jim Clack and I are enormously proud of the heroic efforts of our firefighters, who responded to the scene within minutes and rushed into the blaze to do everything possible to reduce the loss of life."

She continued, "As a city, we must continue to be vigilant in our efforts to prevent fatal fires by ensuring that every home in Baltimore has working smoke alarms. If you, your relative or a neighbor is in need of free smoke alarms, please call 311."

Rick Hoffman, president of the International Association of Firefighters Local 734, released a statement Thursday morning.

"First off, my heartfelt condolences to the family that lost loved ones today in one of the early morning fires. Our prayers go out to the injured firefighters and their families as well. I don't want to use this to get on a soapbox and beat the same drum. Nor do I want to play God and pretend to have a crystal ball to have the ability to see the future and say the companies that were shut down would have had a better outcome this morning. What I believe is a non-arguable point is that the Baltimore City Fire Department is doing a lot more with fewer resources and is spread too thin. But Baltimore can rest assured the men and women of this department are here to proudly serve."

Breaking News: Send breaking news pictures and videos to u local

Below are pictures of past breaking news stories that were sent in by our u local members. If you see news happening, upload your photos to WBALTV.com's u local.